Storage area network and method for provisioning therein

Abstract

A storage array includes at least one target and a logical unit having a logical unit number. The storage array is configured to receive input defining a host group comprising at least one initiator and receive input defining a target group comprising the at least one target. The host group, target group and logical unit number define a view entry. The storage array is further configured to apply the view entry to the logical unit to provide a logical unit inventory that is provisioned for the at least one initiator.

1. A storage area network comprising:
 a host including at least one initiator; and 
 a storage array including at least one target and a logical unit having a logical unit number, the storage array configured to (i) receive input defining a host group comprising the at least one initiator, (ii) receive input defining a target group comprising the at least one target and no initiators, wherein the host group, the target group and the logical unit number define a view entry and (iii) apply the view entry to the logical unit to provide a logical unit inventory that is provisioned for the at least one initiator. 
 
     
     
       2. The storage area network of  claim 1  wherein the at least one initiator is Small Computer System Interface transport agnostic. 
     
     
       3. The storage area network of  claim 1  wherein the at least one target is Small Computer System Interface transport agnostic. 
     
     
       4. The storage area network of  claim 1  wherein the at least one initiator uses a first Small Computer System Interface transport and another initiator uses a second Small Computer System Interface transport different than the first Small Computer System Interface transport. 
     
     
       5. The storage area network of  claim 1  wherein the at least one target uses a first Small Computer System Interface transport and another target uses a second Small Computer System Interface transport different than the first Small Computer System Interface transport. 
     
     
       6. A method for provisioning a logical unit having a logical unit number to at least one initiator via at least one target in a storage area network, the method comprising:
 defining a host group comprising the at least one initiator; 
 defining a target group comprising the at least one target and no initiators, wherein the host group, the target group and the logical unit number define a view entry; and 
 applying the view entry to the logical unit to provide a logical unit inventory that is provisioned for the at least one initiator. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one initiator is Small Computer System Interface transport agnostic. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one target is Small Computer System Interface transport agnostic. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one initiator uses a first Small Computer System Interface transport and another initiator uses a second Small Computer System Interface transport different than the first Small Computer System Interface transport. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one target uses a first Small Computer System Interface transport and another target uses a second Small Computer System Interface transport different than the first Small Computer System Interface transport. 
     
     
       11. A storage array including at least one target and a logical unit having a logical unit number, the storage array configured to
 receive input defining a host group comprising at least one initiator; 
 receive input defining a target group comprising the at least one target and no initiators, wherein the host group, the target group and the logical unit number define a view entry; and 
 apply the view entry to the logical unit to provide a logical unit inventory that is provisioned for the at least one initiator. 
 
     
     
       12. The storage array of  claim 11  wherein the at least one initiator is Small Computer System Interface transport agnostic. 
     
     
       13. The storage array of  claim 11  wherein the at least one target is Small Computer System Interface transport agnostic. 
     
     
       14. The storage array of  claim 11  wherein the at least one initiator uses a first Small Computer System Interface transport and another initiator uses a second Small Computer System Interface transport different than the first Small Computer System Interface transport. 
     
     
       15. The storage array of  claim 11  wherein the at least one target uses a first Small Computer System Interface transport and another target uses a second Small Computer System Interface transport different than the first Small Computer System Interface transport.